James, Emily, Jemima, Tom and Molly Sellicks, Nick Shirley and a group of friends are a team of first time half marathon runners hoping to cross the finish line in September of the Rutland Half Marathon in memory of our most wonderful friend and godfather  Edward Wheeler.

Medical links between Leicester and Gondar started over twenty years ago as a result of health professionals in Leicester wanting to make a difference in the developing world.  

Gondar, a city in Northwest Ethiopia with a population similar to that of Leicester (approximately 350,000),  is home to the University of Gondar Hospital and Medical school, the oldest in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia has long-established and distinctive traditions, but is one of the four poorest countries in the world.

Providing medical care for a population of approximately 7 Million people spread over a remote rural area approximately 150 miles in diameter, there is unfortunately no dedicated Orthopaedic Trauma Theatre. The only trauma care is provided by General Surgical Residents supervised by a single Orthopaedic Consultant.    

The current Operating Block built in the 1930’s is currently being structurally refurbished and a commitment has been made by Gondar University Hospital to give one of those theatres over to a dedicated Orthopaedic Trauma facility.     

It is estimated that equipping the theatre will cost £150k.  

The Rotary Club of Leicester have agreed to support Leicester Gondar Orthopaedic Partnership for their 2017/18 year to raise the funds to establish a facility to be able to carry out basic, safe trauma surgery.

Without this facility, the people of Gondar and the surrounding areas are at risk unnecessary long term disability, pain, an inability to work and in some cases death through infection